Ball pump



P N. GLAsco F eb. 8, 1955 BALL PUMP Filed Augl 11' 1952 NVENTOR. @625mFig, 4

48 Pau/'M G/asca BY MQ:

United States Patenti-O BALL PUMP Paul N. Glasvco, Anderson, S. C.,assignor of fifty per cent to Gushion B. Clark, Jr., Anderson, S. C.

Application August 11, 1952, Serial No. 303,798

3 Claims. (Cl. 226-20.6)

At the present time there is lacking a satisfactory balloon pump withwhich small children may quickly and easily blow up balloons and otherinfiatable devices. As a result of the lack of such a pump, balloons areconstantly being blown up by small children, as well as grown ups, withthe resultant unsantary condition existing when a balloon, which hasbeen handled by numerous persons, is placed in ones mouth. Also, in thecase of small children the balloon is often transferred from one childto the other with the result that the saliva of one child enters themouth of another with the resultant passing of germs.

A further objection to the present method of blowing up balloons is thatat times a balloon will burst while being inflated with the result thata child may have his eyes injured.

In addition to the unsanitary conditions which exist in the ination ofballoons or other inflatable objects by placing the same into ones mouthand blowing into them, there exists at the present time the problem ofone producing suflicient pressure to inflate certain types of smallballoons and other inflatable objects. As a result, the sale of sucharticles is much less than it should normally be and it is desirable toprovide a simple pump for balloons and other infiatable objects which isnot only elatively inexpensive but also attractive to small chilren.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved toy whichmay be utilized as a pump for infiating balloons and other inflatableobjects.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved toy forinfating balloons and the like, said toy having the appearance of a facewith the mouth thereof being utilized as the holder for an inflatableobject to give the appearance of the face blowing up the balloon or thelike.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved toy in theform of a pump for inflating inflatable toys, said pump being providedwith interchangeable fittings to accommodate stems of various types ofinflatable objects.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved toy in theform of a pump, said toy being of a relatively simple construction andhaving extremely simpkle valve means whereby the same is economicallyfeas- 1 e.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the toy, which is the subject of thisinvention, and shows the same being utilized in the process of infiatinga balloon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the centerof the toy of Figure l and showing the general construction of the valvemeans thereof;

Figure 3 is a rotated fragmentary vertical sectional view takentransversely of the section of Figure 2 through an exhaust valve thereofand shows a modified form of fitting for attaching inatable objects tothe toy; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken through thecenter of a fitting adapted to be utilized with the form of valveillustrated in Figure 3 for use in the "Ice 2 blowingup of inflatableobjects having elongated stems, such as beach balls, wading pools, etc.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the toy,which is the subject of this invention, is referred to in general by thereference numeral 10. The toy 10, as best illustrated in Figure 2, is inthe form of a hollow sphere or ball which forms the body portion l12thereof. The body portions 12 may be formed of any suitable fiexiblematerial although rubber or rubber-like products are preferred.

The body 12 includes an intake valve which is referred to in general bythe reference numeral 14. The intake valve 14 includes an opening 16through the body portion 12. The opening 16 is reinforced by areinforcing fitting 18 which is secured to the exterior of the bodyportion 12 by a suitable adhesive, or the same may be formed integraltherewith. The fitting 18 is provided with a centrally located opening20 which is in alignment with the opening 16 and the body portion 12 isadapted to receive incoming air through the aligned openings 16 and 20.The operation of the intake valve 14 will be explained in more detailhereinafter.

The body portion 12 also includes an exhaust valve which is referred toin general by the reference numeral 22. The exhaust valve 22 isangularly positioned with respect to the inlet valve 14 and includes alongitudinal slit 24 through the body portion 12. Secured to the bodyportion 12 on the exterior thereof is a fitting 26. The fitting 26 issecured to the body portion 12 by a nonhardening adhesive 28 andsurrounds the slit 24, which forms the exhaust valve, and forms areinforcing for the same. The fitting 26 has a beveled edge so as tofacilitate the attachment of balloons or the like over the same and isprovided with a centrally located opening 30 which communicates with theslit 24 to permit passage of air through the exhaust valve. It will beunderstood that inasmuch as the :fitting 26 is secured to the bodyportion 12 by a non-hardening adhesive, the same may be replaced byyother types of fittings should it be so desired.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that the bodyportion 12 is provided with a modified form of exhaust valve which isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 32. The exhaust valve32, like the exhaust valve 22, includes a longitudinal slit 34 whichforms the actual component of the valve. exhaust valve 32 differs fromthe exhaust valve 22 inasrnuch as the exterior of the body portion 12 isprovided with an externally threaded fitting 36 which is formedintegrally with the body portion 12 and partially reenforces the slit34. The tting 36 has threadedly mounted thereon a replaceable fitting 3Swhich has a beveled peripheral edge to facilitate the attachment ofballtgons and the like to the same for the purpose of inflatingReferring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a modified form of fitting which may be utilized to replacethe fitting 38, the modified form of fittlng being referred to by thereference numeral 40. The fitting 40 includes an elongated stem portion42 which tapers outwardly from its base 44 and is provided with an airpassage 46 therethrough. The portion of the air passage 46 disposedwithin the base 44 is enlarged and is provided with internal threads 48for engagement with the external threads of the fitting 36. The airpassage 46 is adapted to align with the air passage 50 through thefitting 36 to permit passage of air through the slit 34. It will beunderstood that fittings similar to the fitting 40 may be secured to thebody portion 12 in the manner described with respect to the fitting 26.

Referring now to Figure l in particular, it will be seen that the toy 10may be utilized as a pump by attaching an inflatable object, such as aballoon 52 over the fitting 26 or 38 so as to receive air from theinterior of the body portion 12. When the balloon 52 is so positioned,the toy 10 1s grasped in the hand of a person in the manner illustratedin Figure l with the thumb overlying the opening 20 of the fitting 18.With the thumb of the hand so positioned, the thumb acts as an intakevalve and pre- However, the

vents the passage of air within the body portion 12 through the opening16. When the toy is squeezed in the hand, air is forced therefrom andsince the only possible escape is through the slit 24, the air is pumpedinto the balloon S2 to iniiate the same.

After the toy 10 has been pressed in the hand, the gripping actionthereon is released and the thumb automatically moves out of closingrelation with respect to the opening 20. At the same time flexing of thebody portion 12 results in the closing of the slit 24 or 34 so as topermit air to enter the body portion 12 through the openings 16 and 20and at the same time preventing escape of air from the balloon 52. Theprocess is repeated until the balloon 52 is inated to the desired s1ze.

Referring to Figure l in particular, it will be seen that there isformed on the exterior surface of the body portion 12 eyes and a nosewhich are in alignment with either the exhaust valve 22 or the exhaustvalve 32. The various components of the exhaust valves form the mouth ofthe face and at the same time the fitting 18 forms a cap or the like forthe head of which the body portion 12 is a major part.

By forming the body portion of the toy to have different configurations,it will be seen that various types of toys may be formed withoutdeparture from the spirit of the invention.

It will be noted that the construction of the toy 10 is such that notonly does it provide a satisfactory toy for a small child, but alsodoubles as a balloon pump in order that the parent is no longer troubledwith the constant inflating of balloons. Furthermore, the constructionof the intake and exhaust valves is such that the toy 10 may beeconomically produced.

By providing the toy 10 with a suitable outlet nozzle, the toy may beconnected to a Valve stem of a bicycle tube or other similar inatabledevices so as to form a suitable pump which may be utilized by bicycleusers to inflate their tires to the desired pressure.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoingdescription of the details thereof, taken in connection with the aboverecited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from theembodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resortedto without departure from -the spirit and scope of this invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1s:

l. A toy comprising a hollow body provided with an exhaust valve and anintake valve, said intake valve being normally open and manuallyclosable, said body being formed of liexible material with said exhaustvalve being in the form of a slit therein, said slit being closed byexing of said body, a fitting carried by said body surrounding saidexhaust valve for receiving stems of iniiatable articles, said tittingincluding an externally threaded portion having a replaceable adaptermounted thereon.

2. A toy comprising a hollow spherical body, a portion of said bodybeing conligurated to have an appearance of a face and including eyesand a nose, a first valve iitting positioned relative to said eyes andnose to form a mouth, said first valve fitting having a passagetherethrough communicating With a slit in said body, said slit forming.a self-closing exhaust Valve, a second valve litting positionedrelative to said eyes and nose to form a cap, said cap having a passagetherethrough communicating with an opening in said body, said cap andsaid opening forming a manually controllable intake valve, said firstand second valve fittings projecting from said body and secured to anexterior surface thereof.

3. A toy comprising a hollow body provided with an exhaust valve and anintake valve, said intake valve being normally opened and manuallyclosable, said body being formed of iiexible material with said exhaustvalve being in the form of a slit therein, said slit being closed byflexing of said body, a fitting carried by said body surrounding saidexhaust valve for receiving stems of inatable articles, said iittingincluding a connecting portion having a replaceable adapter mountedthereon.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 105,890Bennett Aug. 2, 1870 285,477 Garsed Sept. 26, 1883 360,422 DoughertyApr. 5, 1887 451,179 Ware Apr. 28, 1891 1,459,282 Clark June 19, 19232,105,957 Severson Jan. 18, 1938 2,119,133 Hogan May 31, 1938 2,439,053Moore Apr. 6, 1948

